[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19167-19168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5465]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 040706I]


Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council); its 
Bycatch Committee; its Research Set-Aside Committee; its Protected 
Resources Committee; its Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Committee; its 
Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, Tilefish Committee; its Ad Hoc Magnuson-Stevens 
Act (MSA) Reauthorization Committee; its Ecosystem Committee;

[[Page 19168]]

and, its Executive Committee will hold public meetings.

DATES: The meetings will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 through 
Thursday, May 4, 2006. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a meeting 
agenda.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the Sheraton Oceanfront Hotel, 
36th & Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, telephone: (757) 425-
9000.
    Council address: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 300 S. 
New Street, Dover, DE 19904, telephone: (302) 674-2331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel T. Furlong, Executive Director, 
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; telephone: (302) 674-2331, 
extension 19.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Tuesday, March 2, 2006

    8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.--As an integral part of the Standardized 
Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) Committee, the Council's Bycatch 
Committee will participate in a meeting of the SBRM Committee to review 
the Fishery Management Action Team's (FMAT) progress report on 
development of an SBRM Amendment and continue discussions related to 
issues to address in the SBRM Amendment.
    1 p.m. to 5 p.m.--The Research Set- Aside (RSA) Committee will meet 
to review technically evaluated 2007 RSA project proposals and provide 
recommendations regarding which proposals best meet Council priorities 
for 2007.
    2 p.m. to 3 p.m.--The Protected Resources Committee will meet to 
review the recent update of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction 
Plan and consider establishing a Committee advisory panel.
    3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.--The Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Committee will 
meet to review and update progress on Amendment 10, and initiate 
discussion regarding changes to 2007 specification.
    7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.--A previously noticed (March 28) scoping 
meeting for Amendment 15 to the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea 
Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) will be held.

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

    8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.--The Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, Tilefish 
Committee will meet to review the status of stock update for tilefish, 
review the current tilefish management practice, review the Monitoring 
Committee's recommendation for 2006/07 fishing year and beyond 
regarding tilefish harvest level, develop and recommend tilefish 
harvest levels for 2006/07 and beyond for Council consideration and 
action.
    10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.--The Ad Hoc Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) 
Reauthorization Committee will meet from to review House versions of 
MSA Reauthorization Bills and develop comments for Congressional 
feedback.
    11:30 a.m. to 12 noon--The Ecosystems Committee will meet to 
develop strategies to reduce bycatch mortality through the adoption and 
use of circle hooks in selected recreational fisheries.
    1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.--The Council will convene to conduct its 
regular business session to approve March 2006 Council meeting minutes, 
approve actions from the March meeting, and receive various reports.
    3:30 to 4:30 p.m.--The Council will review Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, 
Tilefish Committee's recommendations regarding tilefish harvest levels 
for the 2006/07 fishing year and beyond, and adopt tilefish harvest 
levels for the 2006/07 fishing year and beyond.

Thursday, May 4, 2006

    8 a.m. to 9 a.m.--The Executive Committee will meet to review 
actions taken at the April Northeast Regional Coordinating Council 
meeting.
    9 a.m.--The Council will convene to receive a presentation by the 
U.S. Coast Guard on Rescue 21, receive Committee reports, and address 
any continuing or new business.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council and its Committees for discussion, these issues may 
not be the subject of formal Council or Committee action during this 
meeting. Council and Committee action will be restricted to those 
issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising after 
publication of this notice that require emergency action under section 
305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act provided the public has been 
notified of the Council's intent to take final actions to address such 
emergencies.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to M. Jan Saunders (302) 674-2331 
extension 18, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 7, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-5465 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
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